Shrub rose plant named &#39;KORparofe&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose with long lasting, novel pink flowers, and attractive foliage with good disease resistance. It exhibits bushy growth with abundant flowers. The new variety propagates well from cuttings and by grafting. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCES AND FEDERAL R&D STATEMENT

There are no cross referenced or related applications. This variety wasdeveloped without the aid of any research grant.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS and SPECIES

The botanical classification of the new rose plant is Rosa hybrida.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The denomination of the new variety is ‘KORparofe’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of rose plant of the present invention originated from acontrolled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parents duringthe summer of 1994. The crossing was between ‘DELge’ and ‘KORtuge’.

The resulting seeds were planted during the following winter. Theresulting seedlings were evaluated and exhibited distinctive physicaland biological characteristics. The new rose plant was selected as asingle plant from the seedling beds due to its superior characteristicsand asexually propagated for further evaluation. This new anddistinctive rose variety is named ‘KORparofe’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘DELge’,by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The foliage size of ‘DELge’ is medium, while the foliage size        of ‘KORparofe’ is large.    -   2. The petal count of ‘DELge’ is semi-double, while the petal        count of ‘KORparofe’ is very double.

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its pollen parent,‘KORtuge’ by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flower bloom of ‘KORtuge’ is yellow, while the flower        bloom of ‘KORparofe’ is pink.    -   2. The fragrance of ‘KORtuge’ is slight, while the fragrance of        ‘KORparofe’ is strong.

The objective of the hybridization was to create a new and distinct roseplant with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Compact and uniform growth and flowering; when grown as a        plant from cuttings;    -   2. Abundant attractive, recurrent flowers;    -   3. Attractive and abundant foliage; and    -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in landscapes and gardens.

This combination of qualities is not present in prior rose cultivars.These objectives have been substantially achieved and in thatdistinguish ‘KORparofe’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of a rose development program, Tim-Hermann Kordes germinatedseeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluationsand observations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environmentin Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The resulting seedlings exhibiteddistinctive physical and biological characteristics. The new rose plant‘KORparofe’ was selected in May, 1994 from the seedling beds to beasexually propagated for further evaluation. The first asexualpropagation of ‘KORparofe’ was done by budding to seedling understocksin July, 1995 at the inventor's nursery in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop,Germany.

This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlledenvironments demonstrate that ‘KORparofe’ reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘KORparofe’.Specifically illustrated in SHEET ONE is a stem exhibiting thorns; tightbud and open flower bloom; juvenile foliage and tip of stem; dissectedreceptacle and detached sepal; hip; and leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORparofe’, as observed in its growthin October, 2007 in a nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. on plants ofthree years of age. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001 except wherecommon terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘KORpriggos’, a rose variety from the same inventor described andillustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/893,516 andfiled on Aug. 15, 2007 are compared to ‘KORparofe’ in Chart 1. CHART 1Characteristic ‘KORparofe’ ‘KORpriggos’ Flower color, Upper surface:Red-Purple Upper surface: ¼ open Group 63D. Lower surface: Orange-WhiteGroup Red-Purple Group 63C 159D. Lower surface, (marginal zone),Red-Purple marginal zone: White Group 63B (middle zone), Group 155D. andRed-Purple Group 63A Transitions to a large (basal zone). marginal zoneof Yellow Group 2D. Petal Count Flower is very double, with Flower isdouble to 90-110 petals on average very double, with 45-50 petals onaverage

-   Parents:    -   -   Seed parent.—‘DELge’.        -   Pollen parent.—‘KORtuge’.-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida, ‘KORparofe’.        -   Commercial classification.—Shrub rose.-   Flower and flower bud:-   Blooming habit: Recurrent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 40-45 mm in length from base of            receptacle to end of bud and 25 mm in diameter at its widest            point.        -   Bud form.—Short and pointed ovoid.        -   Bud color.—As sepals first unfold, bud color is Red-Purple            Group 61A and Red-Purple Group 61B. When ¼ open, the upper            surface of petals is Red-Purple Group 63D. The lower surface            is Red-Purple Group 63C (marginal zone), Red-Purple Group            63B (middle zone), and Red-Purple Group 63A (basal zone).        -   Sepals.—Size: Average 20 mm long×9 mm wide Shape: Sepals            generally subulate. Sepal apex is generally cirrose. Weak            foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals. Base is            flat at union with receptacle Quantity: Five Margins: With            stipitate glands on outer surface Surface texture: Inner            side: Covered in wooly, white hairs. Outer surface: Smooth            Color: Upper surface Yellow-Green Group 144C. Lower surface            Green Group 143A. Intonations: Greyed-Purple Group 184B.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Shape.—Funnel-shaped.        -   Size.—11-12 mm (h)×13 mm (w).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—With stipitate glands.        -   Length.—40-45 mm average length.        -   Diameter.—3-4 mm average diameter.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Borne.—Multiple flower buds per stem, generally 5 to 6.        -   Anthocyanin.—Greyed-Purple Group 184A.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Strong.        -   Duration.—Long lasting. The blooms have a duration on the            plant of approximately 6 to 8 days. Senesced petals drop            away cleanly.        -   Size.—Large flowered garden rose. When open, the average            flower diameter is 100 mm and the average flower height is            55 mm.        -   Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon            opening, upper part: Flat. Upon opening, lower part: Flat.            Open flower, upper part: Flattened Convex. Open flower,            lower part: Concave.-   Color:    -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group 68B and Red-Purple Group 68C. Intonations            of Red-Purple Group 61C Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 69A            Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 63A Inner            Side: Red-Purple Group 52B.        -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot, outermost            petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C Inner Side:            Green-Yellow Group 1B Basal petal spot, innermost petals:            Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1B Inner Side: Green-Yellow            Group 1A.        -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group 65B and Red-Purple Group 65C Inner Side:            Red-Purple Group 70D Innermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group 65A Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 68B.        -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot,            outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D Inner            Side: Green-Yellow Group 1D Basal petal spot, innermost            petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C Inner Side:            Green-Yellow Group 1C.-   General tonality: On open flower Red-Purple Group 65A and Red-Purple    Group 65B. No change in the general tonality.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal count.—Approximately 90-100 petals under normal            conditions.        -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex strongly.        -   Petal edge.—Slight undulations.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate. Apex shape is round. Shape of base is            acute.        -   Petal size.—45-50 mm long; 35-40 mm wide.        -   Thickness.—Average.        -   Petal arrangement.—Generally in a regular pattern with            overlapping edges.-   Petaloids: Present.    -   -   Petaloid count.—Average of 20-30 per flower.        -   Petaloid edge.—Undulated.        -   Petaloid texture.—Ruffled.        -   Petaloid shape.—Elongated. Entire. Shape of apex is            undulated, shape of base is pointed.        -   Petaloid size.—Petaloids are 10 mm long and 6 mm wide.        -   Petaloid color.—Color of inner side is Red-Purple Group 63B            with intonations of Red-Purple Group 63A. Color of outer            side is Red-Purple Group 63B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—Approximately 50-60 present Stigmas: Location:            Slightly superior in position to anthers Color: Yellow Group            2B Styles: Length: 8-9 mm long Color: Red-Purple Group 58A.            Intonations of Green-Yellow Group 1C.        -   Stamens.—Approximately 10-20 on average and regularly            arranged Anthers: Size: 1.5-2.0 mm long Color: Yellow-Orange            Group 16A and Yellow-Orange Group 16C Pollen: Absent            Filaments: Color: Red-Purple Group 62D with intonations of            Red-Purple Group 62C Length: 7-8 mm.-   The plant:    -   -   Plant growth.—Vigorous. Bushy habit. When grown as a budded            nursery plant the average plant height is 160-200 cm and the            average plant width is 100-130 cm.        -   Stems.—Stem color: Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 145A Older            wood: Yellow-Green Group 144A Stem surface: Young wood:            Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.        -   Prickles.—Present Incidence: 8-12 per 10 cm of stem Size:            Average length: 9 mm Color: Immature prickles: Greyed-Yellow            Group 161A Mature prickles: Greyed-Orange Group 165B            Senescing to Greyed-Orange Group 166A Shape: Concave.            Anthocyanin: Greyed-Purple Group 184B and Greyed-Purple            Group 185C.        -   Leaves and leaflets.—Normally 5-7 leaflets on normal leaves            in middle of the stem Venation pattern: Pyramidal net            pattern Leaf size: 130 mm (l)×100 mm (w) Quantity: Limited            Texture: Upper side of leaflet: Semi-glossy and smooth Under            side of leaflet: Matte and rough Color, mature foliage:            Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A Lower Leaf Surface:            Green Group 138B Color, juvenile foliage: Upper Leaf            Surface: Green Group 138A Lower Leaf Surface: Green Group            138B Anthocyanin intonation: Greyed-Purple Group 183A.        -   Stipules.—Size: 20 mm long. 7 mm between the tips of the            stipule Main body of stipule 6 mm in width Shape:            Longitudinally flanged or winged along middle Stipule color:            Green Group 143A Presence of stipitate glands: Present on            margins Margins: Serrated. With stipitate glands.        -   Petiole.—Length: 4-5 mm Diameter: 1.5-2.0 mm Petiole color:            Green Group 143A Underneath: Smooth Stipitate glands:            Present on margins.        -   Petiole rachis.—Length: 16 mm Diameter: 1.5 mm Color: Green            Group 143B Margins: With stipitate glands Prickles: Not            observed Anthocyanin: Greyed-Purple Group 183A.        -   Leaflets.—Size: Average size of the terminal leaflet is 60            mm (l)×35 mm(w) Shape: Ovate Base: Ovate Apex: Acute            Margins: Serrated Texture: Thick and leathery.-   Hips/seed formation: Present.    -   -   Size.—30 (h)×22 (w).        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146C with intonations of Orange            Group 25A.-   Winter hardiness: To date, the variety has been grown successfully    in Zone 5.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to powdery mildew,    rust, and Black spot disease under normal growing conditions.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) Forms attractive, longlasting pink flowers; (b) Exhibits bushy growth habit; (c) Propagateswell using traditional methods, and; (d) Exhibits very good resistanceto disease under normal growing conditions, substantially as hereinillustrated and described.